STEWART: All right, you know, we started this off "Iron Chef"-style with a battle of the desserts featuring espresso. Then on St. Patrick's Day, we did Irish soda bread. And today, well, it's Good Friday and that isn't exactly a celebratory day. But it also happens to be Purim, the Jewish holiday commemorating the story of Queen Esther, who saved the Jews of Persia from extermination.

So part of that celebration involves baked goods, specifically Hamantaschen. They are these little, triangular, fruit-filled cookies and they are delicious! Our three contestants have baked their own versions, and because we're trying to stay with our theme, our previous winner, Caitlin Scott Siobhan Kenney will not be participating because she's not really Jewish.

DAN PASHMAN: Not too much.

STEWART: In the name of authenticity, today's contenders in the Hamantaschen Bake-off are Dan Pashman, assisted by his wife Janie, who's the real baker whip here, intern Laura Silver, who's actually wearing a Hamantaschen necklace, I believe.

PASHMAN: But she does that every day.

STEWART: Yeah, I know, but today, I think I'm wondering - I'm - that it's not influencing me Laura, by the way. And our special guest bakers, Tommy and Will Hoffman, sons of executive producer, Sharon Hoffman.

PASHMAN: Nice.

STEWART: Tommy's, this many? Five?

SHARON HOFFMAN: Yes.

STEWART: And Will is how many?

Mr. WILL HOFFMAN: Eight.

STEWART: Eight? All right, so we've got the youth, the youth movement in there, too. The youths are here. Here to judge, it's me. I'm not actually Jewish, but I'm married to a member of the tribe...

(Soundbite of laughter)

STEWART: Who gave me some pointers, but I felt like I really needed help, so David Folkenflik...

DAVID FOLKENFLIK: Who am I to judge, really?

(Soundbite of laughter)

STEWART: Well, and we figured you could probably help us out.

FOLKENFLIK: Everybody's a critic.

STEWART: You're celebrating Purim today, and you're a media critic.

FOLKENFLIK: Exactly. Purim's huge! A big fan of Esther.

(Soundbite of laughter)

STEWART: And NPR's ombudsman happens to be here, so we have the domesticity highest standards, Lisa Shepard in studio as well, to make sure this goes on the up-and-up.

LISA SHEPARD: Yes, yes, and I've never even eaten this before.

STEWART: Oh, my goodness! So, oh, my - we have a Hamantaschen virgin in the house.

(Soundbite of laughter)

STEWART: OK.

(Soundbite of laughter)

SHEPARD: I wish I could have said it.

(Soundbite of laughter)

STEWART: All right, first of all, I'm going to describe them. They're a little, triangular-shaped and it's - the mystery of it is it's supposed to be Haman's hat. He was the bad guy, right?

STEWART: Lisa, have you been to the New York Bureau? Do you know what we have here?

(Soundbite of laughter)

STEWART: Come on, now!

(Soundbite of laughter)

SHEPARD: All right, all right.

STEWART: All right, David, you go first.

FOLKENFLIK: Ain't that lucky? I don't know how to stick this in my mouth.

STEWART: That's kind of an issue. I know, it's a little bit large.

FOLKENFLIK: All right, you have to fight your way a little bit more to get towards the center. It's an impressive, beautiful piece. It's a little drier.

SHEPARD: Don't eat - don't talk with your mouth full.

FOLKENFLIK: I've got to talk with my mouth full! This is, you know, radio verite here!

(Soundbite of laughter)

PASHMAN: I don't even know if that's your purview, Lisa.

(Soundbite of laughter)

PASHMAN: Eating with your mouth full. I mean, they've got to draw a line somewhere.

PATRICIA MCKINNEY: Contestants will not speak to the judges.

(Soundbite of laughter)

STEWART: Oh, it's editor Tricia McKinney. You're right. You do have to - it takes a little while - you better like cookie, if you like this one, because you better like the crust, because you - and the crust is very, very good.

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